§ 7. Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to enable the BBC overseas service to broadcast on television and to make the programmes capable of reception in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RifkindAt present the costs of expanding the BBC external services into the television field would be prohibitive and the technical difficulties formidable. It is not the purpose of the external services to broadcast to the United Kingdom.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys WilliamsDoes my hon. Friend agree that the overseas service of the BBC is something of which we can be proud? Is he aware that its influence in the world is enormous in relation to its small cost? Is he further aware that, with the coming of satellite television, its audiences will inevitably diminish unless the news and current affairs services at least are also provided on television? Will my hon. Friend reconsider his attitude and make the necessary funds available from his Department?
§ Mr. RifkindI agree with my hon. Friend that the BBC overseas service is of high quality, but he must appreciate that any attempt to transmit such services through television as well as radio would require a substantial increase on top of the £70 million at present provided for the service. Such funds are not available, but even if they were there would be a good argument for using them to extend the radio service rather than seek to introduce television.
§ Mr. McNallyI think that the Minister has just answered my question, but I should nevertheless like to ask him whether he is aware that many areas of the world are no longer obtaining the good reception of BBC world service broadcasts that was formerly the case? Is he further aware that a great deal of investment is still required to get the radio service right? Will he use his good offices within the Foreign Office to make sure that such investment goes ahead quickly?
§ Mr. RifkindWe are constantly seeking to improve reception of the world service. A new transmitter was introduced in September, which has ensured far better clarity of reception throughout Western Europe.